A FLIPPED CLASSROOM MODEL FOR A BIOSTATISTICS SHORT COURSE

Abstract

Effective pedagogical strategies are needed to improve statistical literacy within health sciences education. This paper describes the design, implementation, and evaluation of a highly interactive two-week biostatistics short course using the flipped classroom model in the United States. The course was required for all students at the start of a doctoral degree program with the goal of standardizing student preparation, contextualizing biostatistics to healthcare, and identifying students needing additional help. We focused on basic concepts and methods, their application to healthcare, selection of statistical procedures, and results interpretation. Data indicate that students were actively engaged, perceived the course as useful, and experienced learning gains. After the course, students indicated that they better understood the relevance and applicability of biostatistics and were motivated to learn more.

First published November 2017 at Statistics Education Research Journal Archives